Civilian Conservation Corps festival

August 9, 2012 —

GREENTOWN, PA — Promised Land State Park will host a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Festival on Saturday, August 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the historic CCC section of the park, which includes Pickerel Point Campground, the Park Museum, auditorium and Deerfield Campground. Though the park has hosted a reunion that was only partially open to the public for many years, this is the first time a larger celebration fully open to the public will be held.

This is the 79th Anniversary of the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp S-139, “Camp Pocono,” at Promised Land State Park. One of the many programs conducted during the Great Depression to provide jobs for the country’s working class, the CCC also gave the country’s natural resources a boost. Former CCC boys from around the United States will gather to tell their stories. “Camp Pocono” planted over a million trees, built the Pickerel Point Campground, the Bear Wallow Cabins, Whittaker Lodge and Egypt Meadow Dam. They also fought fires, plowed snow (by hand), removed dead trees, built roads and modernized the park’s day-use picnic area.

The festival will include guest speakers, music, dancing, kid’s crafts, face painting, food for purchase and much more. Meet Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl. The historic CCC Blacksmith Shop, the Masker Museum and the CCC Auditorium will also be open. Email Promised LandEnvEdsp@pa.gov[1] or call 570/676-0567.